Auburn – Ruth Irene (Whitaker) Bolton, 97, of Auburn passed away on Friday, Nov. 9, surrounded by her family and supported by Clover professionals and Hospice representatives.

She was born on March 25, 1910, in Gill, Mass., the daughter of Charles H. and Orra M. (Hale) Whitaker.

Ruth married Edward Charles Bolton on June 22, 1932.

She was a graduate of Powers Institute in Bernardston, Mass., in 1928, and then from Fitchburg Normal School in Fitchburg, Mass., in 1930. She first began teaching in a one-room school in Gill, Mass., and taught first grade in Northfield, Mass., for more than 30 years. She received the Weigand Teachers Award in Northfield, Mass. She was a former member of MA Retired Teachers Assoc., Franklin County Retired Teachers Assoc., Delta Kappa Gamma, Eastern Star, Fortnightly Club, Trinitarian Congregational Church all of Northfield, Mass., and High Street Congregational Church of Auburn.

She is survived by her husband, Arthur A. Windecker Jr., whom she married on Jan. 6, 2001; daughters, Beverly Leyden and Arolyn Lake; grandchildren, Jack, Jim and Jeff Leyden, Deanne McDonald, Sharon Lake-Post and their spouses; 12 greatgrandchildren; sisters, Eva Sedgewick and Elinor Ambo; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ruth was predeceased by her first husband, Edward C. Bolton, in 1986; brothers, Carl and Ruth Whitaker, Percy and Gertrude Whitaker, Wallace and Hattie Whitaker and Holman and Helen Whitaker; sister, Ruby and Kenneth North; brother-in-law, Anthony Ambo; and son-in-law, John T. Leyden.

Formerly of Northfield, Mass., she moved to Maine in 1991 to be closer to her family. She took great pride in her vocation as a teacher in Northfield and reveled in the growth of her students. A strong and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she will be deeply missed by her family and friends.